Still in the temple of the Elder Gods. We were surrounded by a feeling of doom and woe. At the feet of each statue was a large, 3’ diameter alms bowl, though we hadn’t gotten close enough to look in them.

Flint approached the Goat With 1000 Young, with Cathal nearby for the Protection from Evil. As he got closer, he felt extremely uncomfortable. The statue was a large, humanoid black goat, surrounded by a pool of matter. The statue was glistening and the surface seemed to be moving. In the bowl he saw coins, black sapphire gems and a goat statuette, carved from ivory. It seemed to be smirking at him. Menka and Cathal looked over his shoulder.

Flint, Menka and Cathal moved to the wind walker on the western face. The statue was a cross between a cloud and a human, with blazing red eyes. As Flint got within 3’ of the statue he started to shiver - it got very cold. He only got close enough to peer into the bowl. We could see his hair blowing back slightly. Within that alms bowl he saw gems and coins embedded in ice. Sticking out from the ice was a flask, intricately inlaid with silver runes, with a brass stopper, bearing a seal. Possibly, if we pull the stopper, we’ll let the wind walker free. He also saw the outline of a chain in the ice, as if a chain had been ripped from it.

Flint approached the tentacled visage on the northern face. We had seen an idol that looked like this statue near Shit Creek. The alms bowl contained a significant number of coins, emeralds and a 3" x 1" jar that seemed to be sealed. Brown glass, he could not see within.

Flint approached the eastern face and began to swelter. He couldn’t get too close, but he could see into the alms bowl. Several large rubies, coins, a ring, a glowing metal flask (hot metal), a long sword propped up against the back. This alms bowl was more full than the others. The sword did not seem to be making any noise (the missing sword in the mummy room had an unnerving habit of moaning).

We decided not to faff around with the alms bowls - we needed to find whoever absconded with the chain, pronto. We formed a marching order and headed north.

The way north had a pillar in the wall every 10’. Very old, some of them were crumbling. Everything down here looked ancient though recently used. The passage north seemed to be a processional way, a formal route for religious rituals. It opened into a wider chamber with a massive, oval column in the middle. In the exact center of the east and west faces was a recess. Tentacles were carved along the top of the column. It then closed back up into the original width. The area reeked of evil and magic. Tim’s hair was standing on end.

Flint marched ahead a bit, looking for traps. Ulland joined him. Ulland, with his light source, saw a blackish, green statue in the alcove. A horrible, disturbing monster with an octopus’s head. Rubbery, glistening body, prodigious claws. Long narrow wings. Their stomachs churned while looking upon it. Near the idols water seeped down the pillar, running down over the head of the statue, through its arms and into a bowl at its feet. It was odd, as it smelled like sea water and we were far from any ocean. Flint approached the (western) idol and looked in the bowl. Deep in the dish were tarnished coins that had been there for a long time. It was filled with water but not overflowing. Flint threw a silver piece in a and made a wish. Nothing happened. These idols seemed positively sleepy compared to the four to the south: not emanating power, just carvings. Menka looked at the floor - it looked as if something heavy had recently been dragged north. A large box or chest or something.

The tunnel continued north for a long way. Kyril, who had remained behind, followed us - he went to the east of the pillar and the statue in the alcove was the same. Kyril found it all rather disquieting. He then joined the DM in the kitchen and returned “visibly excited”. In front of us was a diamond shaped pillar of ebony stone. The same tentacled figures on statues set into the pillar, facing us. The pillar reached the ceiling and was black. The corridor continued afterward, as before. We had to boogie to catch up to Kyril. He was excited to continue. On the other side of the diamond pillar seemed to be the “female” counterparts of the statues we’d seen thus far.

The tunnel opened in a cavern, no longer carved. The floor was of rock and sand. Kyril seemed to be smelling fresh air coming in from somewhere. Gonchar said we were at least 5 levels down. Indeed, we were probably on the 6th level underground. We could see that something large was dragged through the room across the sand. We were walking uphill.

A large boulder flew out of nowhere and nailed Gonchar for 19 points (42). Boulders were also thrown at Menka and Cathal though they missed and landed in the sand.

• initiative win
• 3 giant, hulking figures lumbered out of the darkness and 2 huge wolves, followed by the biggest giant we’d ever seen - a mountain giant
• Cathal and Gonchar charged into battle against the giants
• Lycovyne cast Ice Storm from the wand on all the giants - 21 points of damage to each giant and one wolf
• Tim cast Quickening on Cathal
• Kyril cast Charm Mammal on the second wolf, followed by Speak With Animals
• Flint used his Wand and aimed it at the mountain giant - a huge square of lush, flowing grass formed between Flint and the mountain giant
• Gonchar attacked a hill giant with a natural 20, hitting it for 24 points, splattering tiny hill giant brains everywhere, killing it
• Ulland dropped his torch and nocked an arrow
• Cathal attacked the armored mountain giant, missing it
• Menka stayed put
• the mountain giant threw its boulder at Cathal but missed
• the remaining hill giant hurled a boulder at Ulland, which grazed him for 3 points (39)
• wolf #1 chased Cathal
• wolf #2 wagged it’s tail at Kyril and then attacked Menka though it backed off
• initiative loss
• Ulland (nocked arrow) shot at the hill giant, hitting it for 9 points of damage
• that same hill giant missed Ulland with his boulder
• Ulland took another shot and rolled a fucking 1, again
• Gonchar charged that hill giant and swore as an arrow hit the ground near his boot - he hit that giant for 13 points, killing it
• the mountain giant attacked Cathal, hitting him for 26 points of damage (10)
• the wolf, however, missed Cathal
• Cathal used the sword’s Heal on himself, being near death, getting himself back to 57
• initiative loss (tie for Cathal, with the Quickening)
• the mountain giant told Cathal that they could come to an agreement, and the giant did not exude evil
• Cathal raised his hand, signaling a parley

“You’re a fine fighter, I recognize your kind, from the Islands. I do not wish trouble with you, I was just leaving.” The conversation was in giant and only Cathal understood.

The exit to the valley is to the west and not a long walk. Groog was under the impression that the surface was covered in giants and ogres but we believe that is not the case. Cathal and Groog came to an agreement. Groog offered to leave one chest here in exchange for his leaving with the wolves. Groog has not seen the vampire in a long time. He did tell us that the vampires dealt with the alms bowls herself and that he stayed clear of them

Kyril had admonished him to treat the wolves as friends and not pets and he simply smiled and scratched their heads. He looked back, nodded and walked west with the 2 wolves, leaving a chest behind.

Flint opened the chest. Loot!

• statue of an onyx gargoyle
• furs or pelts of a giant animal
• small sack of coins
• folded up tapestry
• a pair of small, carved ivory tusks.

Groog said he could have opened and closed the main gates but he pretended to not know how to do it so that they wouldn’t ask him to do so. Groog hated the fish people and didn’t want to be part of their plans, he was just stretching it out for the profit. Gonchar was pissed off at Cathal for making a deal with the giant without consulting the rest of the party.

The opening to the east lead into a large cavern, filled with bones. All the bones were clean and well-gnawed. In the southern end of the cavern a dark pit dropped straight down into the earth. Flint and Kyril walked to the pit and looked in - stairs lead down. They both got attacked. Something jumped on each of their backs and started choking them with a garotte. Man-sized creatures, light gray to dark green skin, irregular patches of red color. Web hands, blackish hair, incisors. Wearing chain mail.

• Flint took 3 points of damage (47), neck bleeding, couldn’t breathe
• Kyril took 4 points (36), same situation
• Tim zapped the beast on Kyril with his Wand of Magic Missiles for 10 points
• Kyril whipped out his daggers and tried to cut the garrote or a hand, but failed
• Flint did the same thing with one dagger doing 7 points of damage
• Lycovyne hit the one on Flint for 14 points, plus the thing loses a limb - its head
• Menka hit the one on Kyril with the Flail for 7 points
• initiative loss
• the “weasel” dropped off Kyril and headed for the stairs
• Menka whacked it for 9 points as it tried to run
• Ulland then whacked it for 11 points
• Gonchar hit it for 16 points, killing it
• 2 meazels

The steps were actually ancient, rusty metal stairs that circled down as far as we could see. Cathal levitated down and saw nothing but a continued descent, no end in sight. All cobwebby, not used recently. Possibly another entrance to the Underdark?

Cathal used first aid on Kyril, Flint and Ulland, healing them for 1, 1, and 3 points. Then we wandered around an endless series of hallways carved by drunken, meandering, ancient miners. We found an arched doorway that opened in a large room. We saw an oval pool of water in the room. Light glinted on its surface. Hard to tell where the light was coming from. Very odd looking.

Kyril, Ulland and Cathal walked up to the pool of water and got attacked immediately. Tentacles attacked them from behind, above the inside of the doorway.

• Ulland got hit for 3 points, saved vs. paralyzation
• Cathal got hit for 1 point, failed his save - paralyzed with a tentacle wrapped around him - another tentacle wrapped around him and lifted him up - a grell!
• initiative win
• Ulland hit one of the tentacles wrapped around Cathal - the tentacle withdrew
• 3 on Kyril, 3 on Gonchar, 2 on Ulland
• Kyril hit one of the tentacles and it withdrew from combat
• Gonchar hit the tentacle attacking Cathal for 14 points
• initiative tie
• Flint got hit for 1 point, saved vs. paralyzation
• it missed Gonchar
• it hit Kyril, but missed (Cloak of Displacement)
• it missed everyone else
• Ulland switched to bow
• Tim attacked with a magic missile, hitting for 14 points
• Menka attacked a tentacle, it withdrew from combat
• Flint missed with his first attack and his second attack
• Kyril missed
• Lycovyne missed
• Gonchar hit the tentacle wrapped around Cathal and it withdrew from combat
• initiative win
• Ulland hit the body for 17 points of damage
• Menka hit a tentacle and it withdrew
• Lycovyne missed
• Kyril hit a tentacle and it withdrew
• Flint missed
• it missed Menka but hit Ulland for 4 points of damage (33), though he saved vs. paralyzation, praise Thoth!
• it missed Lycovyne
• Ulland had two shots left - the first one hit it for 17 points, killing it

The water was clear but we couldn’t see the bottom. We could see light moving across the surface, something magic was going on. Kyril reached in with his staff and could not reach the bottom. The party had no way to remove Cathal’s paralysis so we put him on the carpet with Flint as pilot. A while later Cathal did make his save and slowly came back to life.

We headed north again to the room we passed on the way here. It smelled horrible. Piles of crap everywhere. Loaded with refuse, like people had been throwing stuff in here forever. Not worth entering, but worth coming back to with a detect magic later on.

We wandered west again, back toward the main tunnel. The passage ended in a large, rough-hewn room. Nothing really of interest. We noticed very large footprints but nothing else. The elves found no secret doors of any type.

Back to the main room with the 4 statues to check out all the doors. Flint checked for traps, finding none. Cathal entered what seemed to be a vestment room. Menka opened the cabinet - black candles and words carved into the back of the cabinet: Chthulu fhtagn!!!!

We went to the door across the hallway. Flint found a trap in the door - a needle trap. He just barely disarmed it, avoiding the poison needle. He then opened the door. And we all had to roll a mystery save. We smelled rotting flesh. Definitely very bad. Something was very dead. Cathal walked in. The entire room radiated evil and contained an oak coffin. In the southwest corner we saw the key blocks for the portal to the Hall of Seven Pillars. Several pairs of manacles hung from the walls. On the westernmost set of manacles there was a thin, emaciated female wood elf. Still alive. Sort of.

The people that failed their saves took a walk to the kitchen. They were charmed and wanted to free the manacled elf, which was a terrible idea. Gonchar grabbed the keys on the table to set her free and Cathal tried to grapple him, but failed. Cathal and Menka worked like hell to passively prevent Gonchar and Tim from freeing the elf or stopping Kyril.

Kyril started to stone shape the elf in place with a cylinder and she lunged toward him, pulling on the manacles. The stone shape went off, the elf was encased in stone, and the charm was broken.

Menka: Cure Wounds from the Staff on Gonchar, getting him 20 points (62). Gonchar tied on a blindfold. Cathal opened the coffin, it was filled with earth. We tipped over the coffin and destroyed it. The dirt spilled out with a bunch of other stuff.

• suit of leather armor
• a couple purses
• a black drow dagger
• a short sword
• a bow
• a quiver of arrows
• elvish chain mail
• elvish dagger
• 4 javelins
• long sword

All of the clothing seemed to be of elvish design and fit. The elf vampire begged us to set her free. Gonchar cut a stake from the coffin, handed it to Kyril who then pushed it through the male corpse’s heart to make sure he was really done. Cathal grabbed the 4 key stones to the Hall of Seven Pillars and stuffed them in his backpack of holding. One of the purses contained thieves' tools, while the other contained 22 pp and 37 gp.

We checked the room for secret doors, finding none. We then moved out and across the hall to another door. Flint checked for traps but didn’t find any. Cathal opened the door and the stench of evil was once again overwhelming. The room was overwhelmingly evil. Winged, tentacled creatures lined the walls. An altar against the western wall was covered in blood and bits of ancient flesh. A pentagram with a broken ring was in the middle of the room. Broken, melted candles around the circle. Burn marks on the wall. A summoning gone horribly wrong. The blood and flesh on the altar was not very old.

Menka and Kyril entered the awful room and looked around. Menka searched the altar but found nothing but evil. We searched for secret doors in the room. None were found.

Crossing the hall, Flint checked that door for traps, finding none, as did Ulland. A room full of manacles, none of which were in use. A woman was chained to the table, her neck chained to a hook at the top of the table. She was squirming and wore the tattered clothing of the women in the caravan. Cathal made his save. 3 bodies are chained to the northern wall. Torture implements lined the walls. A cage with several large, hungry looking rats. As the woman thrashed the chain seemed to move not at all. This must be the chain we were looking for!

Kyril entered the room and made his save as well. She begged him to let her free. Kyril went to get the stake and returned with it. Kyril held her feet while Cathal staked her. She screamed, blood came out of her mouth and she expired, just like in the movies. Gonchar hacked off her head so we could remove the chain.

Once her head was removed, Cathal was able to unwind the chain and remove it. It seemed long while around the vampire’s head, 4’-5’. But once unwound, it was only short, like a woman’s necklace. Shining silver, almost certainly what we were looking for.